Authorities say a Central California woman drowned her two children in the bathtub and then hanged herself.

Fresno County coroner’s officials have released the causes of death for Vera Lucia Diaz Nunez and her children.

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Authorities found the 32-year-old Reedley woman dead Monday night in an apartment along with her 21-month-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Investigators say the children’s father discovered the bodies when he returned from work.

The children were in the tub and their mother was in a bedroom. According to KMPH, the father cut Vera Lucia Diaz Nunez down from a closet.

Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza said the man was cooperating, though he was "very distraught" and "still in shock."

Garza said the scene has weighed heavily on the hearts on first responders.

"We get into law enforcement to help people," Garza said in a press conference. "There's really no way to prepare yourself, mentally, physically, to deal with situations like this this is. This is not something that people are supposed to see -- two young children dead."